Anne Elizabeth Preidis First Communion Anne Elizabeth Preidis ca. 1920s Anne Elizabeth Preidis ca. 1954

Carol Anne McClanahan ca. 1954

Anne Elizabeth Preidis was born July 12, 1912 in Newark, New Jersey, the second child of Elizabeth Silinsky and Adam Preidis and the first daughter. She was baptized at Holy Trinity Church in Newark, August 1912.

The family moved to Columbus, Ohio in April, 1913. They lived on Morrill Avenue, Marion Road, then settled at 236 Barthman Avenue in south Columbus. They were members of St. Ladislaus parish. Anne had 3 brothers, 1 sister, 1 step brother and 2 step sisters so it was a very crowded household. They also took in boarders. The family was poor, they had a large vegetable garden and raised chickens and geese. She said the geese were nasty and would bite, not at all like the cute little Hummel figurine Goose Girl. When I look at that figurine I think of her feeding the geese.

She told stories of everyone having a turn doing dishes. Her half sister, Bea, would hide the dirty pots and pans in the oven. Another chore no one liked was de-quilling feathers so they could be used in pillows. Heaven help you if you sneezed, got the giggles or a breeze passed by. One evening her older brother John wanted to go out and their Mother said he had to do feathers. He complained and finally got her to agree to let him go after he did a glass of feathers. Elizabeth packed and packed that glass and when she finished he ended up with a bigger pile than the rest of the kids. Anne said he never did get out that night.

Anne graduated from South High School in 1930. She was excellent in math and a very good writer but with the Depression and younger siblings at home she could not go on to school and had to go to work instead. She had several secretarial jobs and one was at Omar Bakery. She met her future husband Dr. Bert L. McClanahan there. He drove a bread truck for the company and one day introduced himself, then said no one could ever spell his name. She rattled it right off and the standing joke was he thought he should marry her since she could spell his name. They were married in the rectory of St. Ladislaus Catholic Church, Columbus, Ohio. A reception was held that evening at her Mother's home, 236 Barthman Avenue.

Anne encouraged Bert to return to Dental School. He had to drop out in 1936 because he ran out of money. He did return to the College of Dentistry at Ohio State and graduated in 1948. For a graduation present she and her sister in law Besse gave him a monogrammed pocket watch that I still have.

Her only child Carol Anne McClanahan was born May 1, 1950 in Columbus, Ohio and was the apple of her eye. Mom was an excellent seamstress and made most of her clothes and mine. She taught herself to smock and I had several dresses that the whole bodice was hand smocked, this was long before machines did it for you. I took a class once to learn to do this and made a lovely Easter egg, Took me days, and that was an egg. Can't imagine doing the front of a dress.

I longed for a "store bought" dress. My friends were envious of my Mother's creations. I had a felt skirt on which she appliquéd a mama cat and kitten, complete with rhinestone eyes. And a sweater set (they're back in style) to match. She loved to garden, hers were the flowers, the vegetables my dad's.

She sat with me and taught me the prayers for each bead of the rosary when I excitedly brought home my first one in first grade. She patiently listened to catechism answers, spelling words and times tables. She went on field trips and was my Brownie leader. She was a math whiz, always getting Dad's office checkbook to balance and it sometimes took hours. She liked to write poetry and every year made her Christmas card with a verse and picture of me. That was one of our Christmas traditions. Another was to burn a bayberry candle (a bayberry candle burned to the socket brings health to the home and wealth to the pocket) on Christmas and New Year's. Pork and sauerkraut had to be eaten January 1st also. She always made new pillowcases for us to sleep on that night, sometimes they were being stitched as we were on our way to bed.

She was president of the Altar Rosary Society at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church and attended legislative meetings at the State House that were of interest to the Diocese.

She was my biggest cheerleader and told me I could be anything I wanted. Once I left for college I called every day and I can still hear her say "Hi Doll".

She died January 2, 1973 from complications of heart disease. It was 5 months before my wedding. Her funeral Mass was at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church. She is buried at Union Cemetery, Columbus, Ohio.

Bert & Anne (Preidis) McClanahan 1962

Member of Our Lady of Peace Church, Women's Club Our Lady of Peace Church, Past President of Ladies of Cicitan, Women's's Auxiliary of Columbus Dental Society.

Friends may call WEIR-AREND CHAPEL, 4221 N. High St., Wednesday 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Funeral Mass Thursday 9:30 a.m. Our Lady of Peace Church. Bible service Wednesday 8 p.m. Weir-Arend Chapel. Burial local Cemetery [Union Cemetery].

Child of Anne Elizabeth Preidis and Bert Lynch McClanahan:

Carol Anne McClanahan, born May 1, 1950.

The Preidis Family History is a project of Carol M. Gillespie, D.D.S. You can contact Carol at: CGillespi2@aol.com. Please enter a Subject of Preidis Genealogy, to help us separate your message from spam. The html version was created by Eric Davis.